How to Use TikTookay: Tips for New Users

It’s been extra than three years for the reason that lip-syncing app Musical.ly, now often called TikTookay, first grew to become in style amongst tweens and youths. The social community has since unfold far past Generation Z: TikTookay has been downloaded over 1 billion instances, together with 96 million within the United States, in accordance with estimates from the analysis agency Sensor Tower. It’s additionally owned by the Chinese firm Bytedance, now thought of one of the vital worthwhile startups on the earth. The app itself revolves round sharing 15-second videoclips, that are set to music usually licensed from artists and document labels.

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TikTookay is now beloved not solely by lip-syncing 14-year-olds, but in addition by comedians, athletes, and, sure, manufacturers. Major firms like Coca-Cola, Nike, ABC, and Google have run promoting campaigns on TikTookay. Even Khloé Kardashian has been paid to put up sponsored content material on the platform. But the app isn’t simply house to adverts: TikTookay can also be floor zero for a few of the web’s hottest memes.

You may be forgiven in case you really feel such as you don’t perceive TikTookay. The app is fast-paced and chaotic, combining parts of Spotify, Snapchat, Vine, and Twitch right into a single social community. Here’s what it’s essential know to get began, from TikTookay “Challenges” to Coins and Original sounds.

Getting Started: Set Up Your Account

The very first thing you’ll want is a pair of headphones. There’s simply no method to get pleasure from TikTookay with the hold forth. After you obtain the app, you’ll be able to instantly begin searching movies. But as a way to put up any your self, you’ll want to enroll in an account.

You could make an account utilizing your e mail, your cellphone quantity, or a third-party platform like Facebook. The app robotically assigns you a username. If you join TikTookay together with your cellphone quantity, the app will generate a generic username similar to person1234567. Using an e mail deal with generates a extra personalised ID (though which will current a privateness problem for customers).

To change your username, faucet the icon in the proper backside nook that appears like an individual’s higher physique. Then hit Edit Profile. Here, you’ll be able to change it to one thing extra distinctive, in addition to add a bio, image, and Profile Video.

By default, TikTookay accounts are public, which means anybody can see your profile and examine the movies you put up. To alter these privateness settings, faucet the three dots within the prime proper nook of your profile.

Navigating TikTookay

Now that your profile is able to go, it’s time to observe some TikToks. The app is split into two fundamental feeds. The default is For You, an algorithmically generated stream of movies akin to Instagram’s Explore web page. Swipe left and also you’ll discover the opposite, Following, which options uploads from individuals you select to observe. TikTookay is sort of a endless selection present; it’s pure leisure. Follow creators who make you snicker, like @okay.chh, who posts hilarious skits, or decide as a substitute for cute accounts like @cute_puppies12, which posts the tiniest canine I’ve ever seen.

You’ll discover to the proper of each TikTookay video a sequence of icons. The first will take you to the profile of the person who posted it. Then there’s a coronary heart, which capabilities identical to hearts, or likes, on Instagram. Next are feedback, then a right-pointing arrow for sharing particular person TikToks to different platforms. Click the arrow if you wish to copy the hyperlink to a selected TikTookay, for instance, to share it on iMessage. (One be aware for left-handers: You would possibly discover TikTookay onerous to make use of, a minimum of at first, because it’s usually right-oriented.)

The final icon is a spinning document with music notes emanating from it. This represents the track excerpt the person is enjoying of their TikTookay. Click on it to see the monitor’s identify and artist, in addition to a feed of different TikToks that additionally characteristic it. For occasion, “Fake ID” by Riton and Kah-Lo—a particu­larly in style monitor on TikTookay—has been featured in over 1.4 million movies, that are proven on the track’s web page. These clips are probably not the complete extent of “Fake ID” TikToks on the platform, however extra on that a bit later.

Don’t need to see a sure type of TikTookay in your feed? Hard press on the video to disclose a Not Interested button.

Courtesy of Louise Matsakis

Filming and Sharing TikTookay Videos

Ready to share your personal TikTookay? First, faucet the plus signal on the backside of the display. The digital camera will open, revealing a purple document button harking back to Snapchat. Before you begin recording, you’ll be able to add a track, in order that your lip-sync, dance, or skit is in time with the music. If you need to movie one thing within the second, you’ll be able to skip forward and begin recording and not using a musical monitor, then add the music later.

Like Snapchat, TikTookay has an array of AR results that can be utilized in movies, which do issues like change the colour of your hair or eyes. Tap Effects on the left-hand facet to browse them. The World tab contains choices meant for the setting, similar to a delicious-looking slice of augmented-reality pizza. There are even particular results designed for use on canine and cats.

On the proper facet of the recording display is a Beauty button, which subtly erases the darkish shadows underneath your eyes. Below it’s the filters menu. Unlike Instagram, whose filters have now-iconic names like Mayfair and Valencia, TikTookay’s are merely numbered. The final and most necessary characteristic right here is the timer, which lets customers movie movies with out repeatedly holding down the document button. It’s what makes TikTookay’s signature dancing movies attainable.

Courtesy of Louise Matsakis

TikToks may be as much as 15 seconds lengthy, however customers may join a number of clips collectively for as much as 60 seconds of complete recording. You may add longer movies which were recorded exterior the app itself.

Once you grasp common TikToks, attempt experimenting with duets, which cut up the display in half and allow you to sing the identical track as one other creator. To make a duet, faucet the share button on the unique video, after which hit Duet.

Music, Hashtags, and Challenges

Music is on the coronary heart of TikTookay; choosing a well-liked track may be the first motive a video goes viral. Here’s how to decide on one. First, faucet Add a Sound on the proper facet of the recording display. A Spotify-esque streaming menu of artists and data will seem. Here, you’ll be able to browse the most well-liked tracks on the platform, in addition to take a look at songs from Apple Music.

There aren’t full-length songs on TikTookay; the platform is dominated by brief clips, which might’t be edited. In different phrases, in case you dream of doing the floss to a specific portion of your favourite track, it’s possible you’ll be out of luck. But there’s a means round this drawback. Many TikTookay customers merely play a track from one other machine—similar to a pc or stereo—whereas they’re recording. TikTookay will then register the monitor as an “Original sound,” which different customers can then add to their very own movies. A phrase of warning: Using this loophole could end in copyright violations.

On this similar music streaming menu are the songs related to TikTookay #Challenges. Challenges are what unite the TikTookay group, they usually’re usually sponsored by advertisers. Right now, for example, ABC is working the #LikeAnAmericanIdol problem on TikTookay, which invitations you to “showcase your wonderful voice!” (So far, 25.three million movies have been created that includes the hashtag.) Google lately ran an analogous problem marketing campaign with the hashtag #HeyGoogleAssist.

Most challenges aren’t sponsored. Instead, they’re created by TikTookay and the group itself. The app is at present that includes the #faketravel problem for example, through which customers fake to be on an expensive trip. The meme pokes enjoyable at influencers who brag about their #jetsetlifestyle on different platforms like Instagram.

To browse all of TikTookay’s present challenges, faucet the magnifying glass on the backside of the house display. At the highest of this similar menu, there’s a search bar, which can be utilized to seek for particular creators, sounds, or hashtags.

Courtesy of Louise Matsakis

Views, Notifications, and Other Metrics

Once you begin sharing TikToks, you’ll be able to examine how many individuals have watched them by wanting on the view numbers in your profile. Tap the notifications icon on the backside of the house display to see who has commented or appreciated your movies. Here, you may also see who has checked out your profile or adopted you. One necessary tip: TikTookay is infamous for sending hoards of engagement bait within the type of push notifications. If that type of spam sounds unappealing, flip off TikTookay notifications in your cellphone’s settings menu.

TikTookay additionally notifies customers when in style creators are “LIVE streaming” (the characteristic isn’t accessible for each person). As on Twitch, whereas watching a dwell stream you’ll be able to tip creators in digital items, that are bought with TikTookay Coins. $1 equals 100 cash. Creators usually acknowledge their followers or reply questions they ask in alternate for these presents, a portion of which they will convert into common foreign money.

You’re Ready to Go

You now know how one can be part of the most recent TikTookay #Challenge. You’ve added a digital pepperoni slice to your lip-syncing masterpiece. And you perhaps even danced a bit. You’re able to discover TikTookay. The app has loads of further options, and the easiest way to search out them is by enjoying round your self. So flip up the quantity and go forth.